PLANNING officers in Mole Valley have recommended that plans for a huge Tesco supermarket in Ashtead should be rejected.

In a long-awaited report issued this week, officers at the district council’s planning department said the store was too large and would be out of keeping with the character of the village.

The report, compiled by planning officer Clive Smith, said: “It is considered that a 1,115sq-m store would dominate convenience goods shopping in the area, resulting in the likely closure of local food shops to the detriment of consumer choice and the vitality and viability of the shopping centre."

“There is concern that the proposed building would be physically too large and out of character with the context of Ashtead village centre.”

Opposition to the development, which also includes nine flats, has been rife with almost 800 people submitting letters of objection to the council.

A campaign group called Save Ashtead’s Village Environment was also set up and has collected a petition containing 5,436 signatures against the proposal – one for almost every household in the village.

But the fight is not over yet. The council will make its final decision at a development control committee meeting next Wednesday, but even if the plans are thrown out Tesco could appeal and the planning inspectorate could ultimately overturn the decision.

For news from the council meeting, see this website and next week's Dorking edition of the Surrey Advertiser, out on Friday, March 6.